Philosophy of Youth Ministry

1. Philosophy of Youth Ministry Character Issues: Integrity, Purity & Honesty Florida Christian College joeharvey, D.min. joe.harvey@fcc.edu 2011

2. INTEGRITY • Definition • 1. firm adherence to a code of especially moral or artistic values : incorruptibility • 2. an unimpaired condition : soundness • 3. the quality or state of being complete or undivided : completeness (http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/integrity 8/18/2011) • Contrast • hypocrisy (ὑπόκρισις), pretense, outward show • Theater term: lit., “a play actor” • Key Concept: wholeness • A “heart-level” question • Are you the person you appear to be?

3. Integrity Identity: Am I behaving like a son/daughter and a servant? Mission: Am I extending God’s agenda rather than my own? Ethical: I’m I conforming to biblical ethical standards and doctrines?

4. Integrity in Ministry • Identity: Servant Leader (John 13:12-17) • Mission: Evangelize & Equip (Matt. 28:19-20; Eph. 4:11-13) • Ethical: Courageous Teaching & Living • Personal • Professional • The Principle of Power • The Principle of Imitation: “Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith” (Heb 13:7 NIV).

5. PURITY • Sexual Purity (hagneia, n): 1 Timothy 4:12; 5:2 • Innocent, sexual and otherwise (hagnos, adj): Titus 2:5; 1 Timothy 5:22 • Clean Heart • καθαρᾶς καρδίας (1Timothy 1:5; 2 Timothy 2:22) • לֵב טָהוֹר (Psalm 51:12) • Holiness • Moral purity • Association with God • Spiritual Battle (Ephesians 6:10-18)

6. A ministry staff member invites you to lunch at a local restaurant to discuss upcoming programming—just to two of you. • One of the students in your youth group is having family issues. The student asks you for counseling and insists on meeting tomorrow evening (after office hours). • It’s “crush time” and the only way you’re going to be ready for the special event tomorrow is work late along with your intern, who is of the opposite sex. PURITY What would you do? In each of the following scenarios, imagine you will be in a situation where you are alone with someone of the opposite sex.

7. Purity in the Pastoral Epistles “Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity” (1Ti 4:12 NIV). “Flee the evil desires of youth, and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart” (2Ti 2:22 NIV). “In everything set them an example by doing what is good. In your teaching show integrity, seriousness and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned . . . ” (Tit 2:7-8 NIV).

8. Reasons for Impurity in Ministry • Self-sufficiency (A.K.A., Pride; e.g., King David) • You can’t anchor yourself in yourself! • Humility as knowing your place and then submitting to reality. • Cultural Conformity (Rom. 12:1-2) • Insecurity • “I want to be valued!” • “I want to be accepted!”

9. Insecurity in Ministry Leadership

10. Impurity in Ministry Components of Compromise

11. HONESTY • Truthful • Truthfulness, dependability, uprightness: Romans 15:8; 2 Corinthians 7:14; • Truth as opposed to untruth: Mark 5:33; Ephesians 4:25. • Truth as characteristic of divine or human action: John 1:17; 3:21; 1 Corinthians 13:6; Ephesians 4:24 • Reality: Philippians 1:18; 2 John 1 • “Do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing by the truth—so help you God?”

12. Decoding Reality Revelation Reason Experience Certainty Probability FAITH Critical Realism Antimodern Postmodern Modern Premodern B/W Intellectual (evidential) E E Emotional (charismatic) Pragmatism Critical Realism Deism Despair Nihilism Adapted from class notes: Developing a Culturally Sensitive Ministry, original diagram by Dr. John Castelein

13. Honesty